One of my friends from work just found out that she may deliver her baby girl a littler early than expecting. She likes the headbands I made for my niece and I was planning on crocheting some for her. My nieces were just a tad too big for a newborn, so I made these a little smaller. They are stretchy so they will work for her for a little while. I plan to make her a few more in a larger size, since babies grow so fast…

Beautiful Baby Headbands

The top head band I crocheted with lavender baby yarn. Each row had 3 half double stitches and chain 3 on the end. I added a purple and hot pink ribbon flower.

The middle headband was crocheted with a light blue baby yarn. I used 2 double stitches per row and a chain on the end. I adorned it with a 8 petal ribbon flower.

The third headband was made with the lavender baby yarn. I crocheted one half double stitch per row with a chain 3 on the end. It is embellished with a flower made of purple ribbon with white polka dots.

Tomorrow (or possible super early Tuesday), we will have a new niece! It’s my SIL’s third child, but with two older boys, this little girl will have no choice but to be spoiled with girlie clothing and accessories (she’s the first granddaughter for my in-laws).

Beautiful Baby Headbands

I made her a few spring-inspired headbands…
For the first one, I used baby pink yarn (2 double crochets per row, chain 3) and made a cute hot pink and orange ribbon flower to add. Originally I thought about crocheting the flower, but I like the visual mix of textures.

Her second headband was made with lavender yarn (1 half double crochet, chain 3) embellished with purple ribbon with white polka-dots.

The third headband was crocheted with baby blue yarn (3 double crochets per row, chain 3) and I added a turquoise and lime green flower printed ribbon.

Finally, the fourth one was crocheted with lavender yarn (4 double crochets per row, chain 3) and I added a dark purple and hot pink ribbon flower.

I wanted to make a fifth headband (light green with baby pink and lime green ribbon), but the craft store was out of the color.

Pumpkin wanted to learn to crochet. Since I’m a righty and he’s a lefty, it was a little more difficult to learn and he gave up quickly. Maybe when he’s older we’ll give it another go (or maybe his lefty Aunt B will teach him the next time she’s in from Scotland)…

With eReaders becoming more popular, bookmarks may become a thing of the past. I haven’t giving in yet to the craze. There’s just something about the weight of the book in my hand, the texture of the pages on my fingertips and the aroma of the ink that just seems to allure me. With the amount of time so many of us spend on the computer, I can’t justify more time staring at a screen. This gift is for the book lovers like me…

Crocheted Fan Bookmark

I had the directions for this crochet fan bookmark, bookmarked on my computer for years. I had yet to make it and I thought now that I had started to crochet with thread, I’d give it a whirl. It took my a while for my to get started, unsure if I was following the directions correctly. You can customize the bookmark to the recipient’s favorite color, using multicolored thread is a nice touch. For easy blocking, I suggest you lay the bookmark flat in a book for a few days, remove it and spray it slightly with fabric starch.

How to:
Follow the directions in the link above, remembering to block it and starch it when you’re done.

Approx. Cost:
Spool of crochet thread about $5. It you already have a hook, it’s about 20¢ a piece.

The perfect gift with a book, or alone, whatever the occasion. Attach a bookmark as a gift tag to the outside of a wrapped book. Give bookmarkb to the members of your book club at your holiday meeting.

Even Rory liked the bookmark so much that he pounced on it once it was finished and ran off with the prey in his mouth…

Crocheted snowflake ornaments are a staple for classic Christmas decor. They look great many different sizes and patterns. For a white Christmas, string them on the tree. Add them to a wreath for a whimsical touch. Hang then from the windows at varying heights, keep them up all winter for a snowscape.

I reminded of crocheted snowflake ornaments while browsing the internet. I can’t remember who exactly, but I remember seeing them on someone’s tree when I was younger. I tried to follow a few different patterns (I found online), without success. British crochet patterns have different terminology than U.S. crochet patterns and even knowing the conversions (if you will), I still seem to slip up every so often… I changed my yarn, thread and hook, still no success. Just like I can’t seem to follow recipes, I can’t seem to follow patterns. Sometimes creative genius feels more like undiagnosed ADHD. I tore apart each attempt and just made what my heart desired…

Crocheted Snowflake Ornaments

I used a 4 ply worsted white cotton yarn with my US G6 Hook. Then I used size 5 thread in white/pearl (it has glitter flecks all through the thread) with a 1.65MM hook.

I’ve recently heard from other moms that diaper bags are too frumpy, or they’re too small or that with the zipper you can’t easily open it and grab something when you’re on the way…

When my one BFF found out she was pregnant, I decided that I wanted to make her a cute diaper bag, bigger than most and with an easy access top. I decided to use faux leather to stitch together a diaper bag, that could double as a beach bag or something ex post (baby) facto. Overall, the bag’s shape turned out really well, the stitching is off in a few places, even using leather needles, the material was too tough for my lil’ sewing machine (ah, how I miss the machines at the costume shop). I used cute napkin rings to attach the straps to the bag. I think if I ever make one again, I’ll just sew the lining and use a strong bonding glue for the leather and maybe add a stiff insert between the lining and the exterior.

Finished Diaper Bag

Unfinished Pocketed Lining

I wanted to fill it with cute things for the baby; a Baby’s Memory Book, a cuddly teddy bear and I made a chocolate-brown changing pad and navy satin trimmed fleece blanket. I also filled it with a few diaper bag essentials, hand sanitizer and slim wipes case, diaper cream, alcohol wipes, diaper sacks and a grooming travel ring (with comb, brush, clippers and forehead temperature strips).

Diaper Bag Goodies

Since I had a lot to prepare for her shower, I didn’t get the diaper bag finished in time. I took it to her on Monday when I went to help her set up her nursery.

My BFF had her baby boy at 12:01am Wednesday morning. He is adorable and I’m thrilled for them. Congratulations Horst family!

I remember how much I loved the texture of my crocheted baby blanket against my skin as a child. I also remember the cold smooth satin trim on several of my other blankets. I remember tactile details throughout my life

Hubster’s cousin is having a baby boy in August and this afternoon (actually, now) is her baby shower. I made her two blankets, one crocheted, one fleece with satin trim. The main color in the nursery is between a spearmint green and light sage green, with lot’s of neutral tones.

For the fleece blanket, I used a cream-colored fleece and chocolate satin blanket binding I used cream thread to create the contrast n the blanket binding.

Conner's Fleece Blanket w/Satin Trim

The blankets complement one another, so they can be used alone or apart. I also gave her two board books, my favorite children’s bedtime stories, Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. I folded the blankets, stacked the presents and tie them with a chocolate ribbon!

Looking forward to Connor’s arrival!

What do you remember from your early days? The smells? Tastes? Sounds? Or touches?

I just had to crochet a baby blanket for my BBF’s baby shower. Since I taught her how to crochet a double stitch nine years ago (after we first met), I felt it only appropriate to use a double stitch on this blanket for her soon-to-be bundle of joy. I crocheted a small white blanket with light blue, light green and pale yellow alternating stripes throughout. I used a size G Susan Bates crochet hook and Bernat baby yarn.